Susan Elbin

Senior Research Scientist & Director of Wildlife Trust's New York Bioscape Initiative

Susan Elbin is Senior Research Scientist and Director of Wildlife Trust's New York Bioscape Initiative, a team of dedicated scientists (36 project associates from 17 institutions, including universities, environmental organizations, and government agencies responsible for managing our natural resources) who together address issues dealing with human health, wildlife health, and ecosystem health.

Before joining the Wildlife Trust staff, Dr. Elbin worked in numerous departments at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), including the Bronx Zoo Education Department, Ornithology Department, and the Science Resource Center. While at WCS, she worked on a variety of projects including studies of avian ecology and behavior in disturbed/restored grassland habitats, radiotelemetry and individual identification techniques and social behavior and use of space with respect to managing birds in captivity (Bronx, NY, USA).

Susan was appointed in 2006 to be co-chair of the Harbor Heron’s Subcommittee of the Habitat Working Group for the Harbor Estuary Program. The New York Bioscape Initiative is a founding member of the tri-state Nature Network, and Susan is on its Board of Directors. She is an adjunct research scientist with Columbia University and teaches behavioral ecology at the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation. Locally, Susan was appointed by the mayor of the town she resides in New Jersey to sit on the Planning Board and the Environmental Advisory Committee. Elbin's general interests include behavioral ecology and conservation, and her specific interests and expertise are in avian ecology, conservation of colonial waterbirds, and threats to biodiversity from over-abundant and invasive (bird) species.